England look to youth for Four Nations

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England coach Tony Smith has named three new faces in his 24-man squad for the forthcoming Gillette Four Nations against Australia, France and world champions New Zealand.

Sam Tomkins, the 2009 engage Super League Young Player of the Year, is joined by Warrington Wolves utility back Chris Bridge and Kyle Eastmond, the St Helens half-back who delivered a strong performance in defeat at Old Trafford last Saturday.

Tomkins and Bridge are also included in Smith’s 20-man squad for the Gillette Fusion International against Wales at The Brewery Field, Bridgend, this Saturday, October 7.

All three players short-listed for the 2009 Super League Young Player of the Year award, Tomkins, Eastmond and Richie Myler, are included in England’s Gillette Four Nations squad, which also features three other players aged under 21.

“It’s great to see some young and fresh faces in there, this is very much a squad for now and a squad which looks to the future,” said England Head Coach Tony Smith.

“These young players will do a good job for us alongside the wealth of experience that exists elsewhere in the squad.

“The depth of talent reflects the increasing numbers of exciting young players who are emerging from engage Super League.”

The Gillette Four Nations squad is drawn from 11 clubs, 10 from engage Super League and one from the NRL, Wests Tigers who are represented by Gareth Ellis.

St Helens, the 2009 Grand Final runners-up, have four representatives in Kyle Eastmond, James Graham, James Roby and Jon Wilkin.

Those nine players will be rested for this weekend’s Gillette Fusion International against Wales at The Brewery Field, Bridgend, on Saturday when Smith will be looking for the players involved to make a big impression.

“For some of them it’s a good chance to show that they can make the step up on to the international stage; for others it’s an opportunity to blow off some cobwebs and build confidence and form going into the Four Nations.”